{"id":3682,"date":"2007-07-20T10:44:08","date_gmt":"2007-07-20T17:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3682"},"modified":"2021-01-31T18:40:06","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T01:40:06","slug":"bonjour-tristesse-1958","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3682","title":{"rendered":"Bonjour Tristesse (1958)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;She&#8217;s changed him; she&#8217;ll change me &#8212; she&#8217;ll change everything!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Poster-300x214.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Poster-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Poster-128x91.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Poster.jpg 936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhile spending the summer on the French Riviera, a spoiled, hedonistic teenager (Jean Seberg) plots to keep her beloved playboy father (David Niven) away from his controlling bride-to-be (Deborah Kerr).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Coming of Age<\/li>\n<li>David Niven Films<\/li>\n<li>Deborah Kerr Films<\/li>\n<li>Father and Child<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Jealousy<\/li>\n<li>Jean Seberg Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Otto Preminger Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Bonjour Tristesse<\/em>, based on the bestselling novel by 18-year-old Francoise Sagan, received scathing reviews upon its release: &#8220;Almost everything about this picture, which opened at the Capitol yesterday, manifests bad taste, poor judgment and plain deficiency of skill&#8221;, pronounced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1958\/01\/16\/archives\/screen-sad-tristesse-movie-emphasizes-novels-weakness.html\">Bosley Crowther of the <em>NY Times<\/em><\/a>. Director Otto Preminger had brought back the star of his previous film (the poorly received <em>Saint Joan<\/em>, 1957) and cast her in the central role of Cecile: a willful, spoiled young woman who finds her carefree summer threatened by the arrival of an unwanted maternal figure. It&#8217;s an odd story &#8212; not entirely successful, yet somehow riveting, and not nearly as awful as Crowther&#8217;s review suggests; we watch with the uneasy knowledge that a train wreck is about to happen, yet recognize it as the inevitable fallout of adolescent callowness. <\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, young Seberg hadn&#8217;t yet discovered her acting chops; her delivery of lines is stilted at best, and the obvious post-dubbing doesn&#8217;t help matters any. Yet she exudes charm and youthful beauty, and remains compelling to watch. Her character&#8217;s close relationship with Niven (nicely cast against type) reminds one of Gidget and her widowed father, though with a decidedly sensual tinge; Cecile is remarkably comfortable with the explicit knowledge of her father&#8217;s summertime affair with the sexy yet safely innocuous Elsa (Mylene Demongeot). Also impressive is Deborah Kerr in a thankless yet pivotal role as Cecile&#8217;s godmother &#8212; a ruinous presence in Cecil&#8217;s idyllic existence. <\/p>\n<p>Other than Seberg and Kerr, the most memorable elements of the film are the gorgeous Technicolor visuals and sun-drenched French Riviera settings &#8212; this is very much a <em>summertime <\/em>film, with events compressed into the span of one tragically memorable vacation. The closing shot &#8212; reminiscent of Glenn Close in <em>Dangerous Liaisons<\/em> &#8212; makes for a daringly downbeat finale in an era of mostly cheerful denouements; in a way, it&#8217;s easy to see why modern critics (such as Eric Henderson at <em>Slant Magazine<\/em>) cite <em>Bonjour Tristesse<\/em> as a film waiting to be reclaimed: like Douglas Sirk, Preminger is now viewed by many as an auteur whose talents remained largely misunderstood during his lifetime. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Saul Bass&#8217;s opening titles<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Bass.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Bass.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"837\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Bass.jpg 837w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Bass-300x132.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Bass-128x56.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Bass-768x338.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Bass-604x266.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 837px) 100vw, 837px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jean Seberg as Cecile &#8212; not a great actress, but exuding abundant charm and attractiveness<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Seberg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Seberg.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"835\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Seberg.jpg 835w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Seberg-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Seberg-128x55.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Seberg-768x332.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Seberg-604x261.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 835px) 100vw, 835px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>David Niven as Cecile&#8217;s carefree dad<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Niven.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Niven.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"836\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Niven.jpg 836w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Niven-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Niven-128x55.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Niven-768x331.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Niven-604x260.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 836px) 100vw, 836px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Deborah Kerr as Anne<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Kerr.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Kerr.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"834\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Kerr.jpg 834w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Kerr-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Kerr-128x56.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Kerr-768x333.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Kerr-604x262.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 834px) 100vw, 834px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Striking Technicolor cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Colors.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Colors.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"833\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67537\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Colors.jpg 833w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Colors-300x128.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Colors-128x55.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Colors-768x328.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Colors-604x258.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 833px) 100vw, 833px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A compelling &#8220;love triangle&#8221; between father, daughter, and stepmom-to-be<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Jealousy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Jealousy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"838\" height=\"362\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Jealousy.jpg 838w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Jealousy-300x130.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Jealousy-128x55.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Jealousy-768x332.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Jealousy-604x261.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 838px) 100vw, 838px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gorgeous settings in the French Riviera<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Riviera.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Riviera.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"841\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-67533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Riviera.jpg 841w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Riviera-300x129.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Riviera-128x55.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Riviera-768x331.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/07\/Bonjour-Tristesse-Riviera-604x261.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>No, but it&#8217;s recommended.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0051429\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1958\/01\/16\/archives\/screen-sad-tristesse-movie-emphasizes-novels-weakness.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s1038trist.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/bonjour-tristesse\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;She&#8217;s changed him; she&#8217;ll change me &#8212; she&#8217;ll change everything!&#8221; Synopsis: While spending the summer on the French Riviera, a spoiled, hedonistic teenager (Jean Seberg) plots to keep her beloved playboy father (David Niven) away from his controlling bride-to-be (Deborah Kerr). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Coming of Age David Niven Films Deborah Kerr Films Father and Child Flashback Films Jealousy Jean Seberg Films Love Triangle Otto Preminger Films Review: Bonjour Tristesse, based on the bestselling novel by 18-year-old Francoise&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3682\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3682"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67541,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3682\/revisions\/67541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}